1 THEAMKRICAX BO'J'AXIST 



of the trees from which it hangs in long festoons, while the 

 polypody forms colonies on the trunk and larger limbs. 



The polypody derives its name of resurrection fern from 

 its habit of curling up during dry periods and apparently com- 

 ing to life again when it rains. The plant does not actually 

 die during the drouth but remains in a state of suspended ani- 

 mation much as our perennial plants do in winter. The 

 drough is the polypody's winter. So fixed is this habit in the 

 plant, however, that even when it is dead and reduced to a 

 mass of brown and dry vegetation, it will spread out its fronds 

 if soaked in w^ater. It is, however, a somewhat difficult mat- 

 ter to know when such a plant is really dead for cases are 

 known where specimens have survived for more than a year 

 without water. 



There are an immense number of plants in the world which 

 have the ability to renew growth after a period of dessication. 

 Often they are rooted in the soil as in the case of Selaginella 

 lepidophylla another resurrection fern which, is misnamed for 

 it is not a fern though closely related to such plants. This plant 

 curls up into a compact round ball when dry and is frequently 

 offered collectors of curios. \'^arious flowering plants have the 

 habit of resting thus esi)eci;il!y in the rain forest. Here, how- 

 ever, the period of drouth is likely to be of short duration and 

 therefore offers no such test of vitality as our polypody must 

 cften undergo. Since it grows as far north as southern 

 Illinois, it must often encounter both drouth and cold. It is well 

 equipped for the battle, however, for its fronds are closely 

 set with tiny brown and gray scales which enable it to hold 

 tenaciously any moisture it may absorb. Our frontispiece is 

 from a photograph showing a colony of these plants on the 

 base of a large oak and was made in Florida by Mr. W. M. 

 Buswell. 



